South Africa: Court asylum ruling distorted online, sparks anti-foreigner unrest in Durban

A narrow Constitutional Court ruling on asylum applications was misrepresented on social media as granting citizenship, grants, jobs, and voting rights to foreigners, triggering anti-foreigner mobilization in Durban. The unrest reflects a pattern of xenophobic sentiment amplified by disinformation, though the ruling itself is limited in scope. The incident underscores the fragility of social cohesion and the potential for online falsehoods to drive real-world violence.